Self-loading carrier

ABSTRACT

Trailer apparatus for in-plant roadway transporation of heavy elongated objects comprises a pull yoke and draft beams between which a load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted. The rack at each end has load-supporting members, those at least one end being pivotally mounted to swing from a position clear of the load to a position below it. The trailer is maneuvered over the load, which is locked under at least one end, with the rack tilted so as to introduce the load-supporting member at the low end of the rack beneath the high end of the load. Then the rack is tilted in the other direction, raising the load, and the pivoted load-supporting members at its other end are swung under the load. The rack is rotated to a level position for travel.

[451 Aug. 26, 1975 1 SELF-LOADING CARRIER [76] Inventor: Gibson E. Brock, R.D. 5,

Persimmon Rd., Sewickley, Pa. 1 5 1 43 22 Filed: Nov. 14,1973

21 Appl. No.: 415,553

[52] US. Cl. 214/392; 214/149; 214/396;

214/731 [51] Int. Cl B60p 1/54 [58] Field of Search 214/3904396,

214/731, 314, 775, 776, 149, 672, 673, 674, 78; 280/124 A; 18 O/79.2 B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,504,885 4/1950 Schreck 214/674 2,724,522 11/1955 Phebus 214/672 2,733,825 2/1956 Evans 214/672 2,774,498 12/1956 Cordes et a1 214/731 3,012,684 12/1961 Sexton, Jr. et a1 ..2l4/302 3,266,650 8/1966 l-lauschild et a1. 214/731 3,484,964 12/1969 Jeffrey, Jr. 214/672 3,715,128 2/1973 Allen et a1. 280/124 A 3,773,197 11/1973 Blakeley et a1. 214/731 Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant ExaminerLawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim l ABSTRACT Trailer apparatusfor in-plant roadway transporation of heavy elongated objects comprises a pull yoke and draft beams between which a load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted. The rack at each end has loadsupporting members, those at least one end being pivotally mounted to swing from a position clear of the load to a position below, it. The trailer is maneuvered over the load, which is looked under at least one end, with the rack tilted so as to introduce the loadsupporting member at the low end of the rackbeneath the high end of the load. Then the rack is tilted in the other direction, raising the load, and the pivoted loadsupporting members at its other end are swung under the load. The rack is rotated to a level position for travel.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUEZBIHYS 3,901,397

' SHEET 1 u; g

Figl.

SELF-LOADING CARRIER This invention relates to in-plant carriers of heavy elongated loads such as pipe, bars, structural sections and semi-finished articles such as metal blooms and billets. It is more particularly concerned with a trailer carrier provided with mechanism for automatically loading and unloading such articles from and to the ground.

While my apparatus is adapted to elongated loads of any material, it is especially useful for heavy loads such as rolled steel articles of the types above mentioned. In the manufacture of steel it is quite common to stock semi-finished products such as blooms, billets, bars and the like on the ground pending their conversion into finished products. It is likewise not uncommon to stock certain finished products in the same way. The articles are aligned one with another. Small section articles are sometimes bundled with wire ties or steel straps but heavy articles such as bars or billets with flat faces are merely piled one on another. Those piles, which may be 20 to 30 feet long, are conventionally spaced from the ground at one or both ends by wood or steel blocks or mounds of earth so as to permit slings to be passed under the pile for lifting by conventional cranes or straddle carriers. Those slings must be pulled into place manually.

Certain products are sometimes stacked on pallets which can be loaded automatically by conventional fork lifting tractors. The load, however, is necessarily carried crosswise of those tractors, which limits their use to articles no longer than the width of their roadways.

It is an object of my invention to provide an over-theroad carrier for elongated loads which loads and unloads its burden without manual assistance. It is another object to provide such a carrier in the form of a trailer that can be pulled by a conventional tractor. It is still another object to provide such a carrier that will pick up loads raised only at one end. Other objects of my invention will appear in the course of the description thereof which follows.

Embodiments of my invention presently preferred by me are illustrated in the attached figures, to which reference is now made.

FIG. 1 is a plan of an embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section taken on the plane IIII of FIG. 1, of the apparatus of FIG. 1 connected to a tractor; but with swing load supporting members extended longitudinally;

FIG. 3 is a rear end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. I, partly in cross-section taken on the plane IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are details of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the first and second steps respectively of its loading operation;

FIG. 6 is a plan of another embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section taken on the plane VII-VII of FIG. 6, of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a rear end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 6, partly in cross-section taken on the plane VIIl-VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an elevation, partly broken away, of a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic elevation of another modification of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a partial rear end elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a partial cross section of the apparatus of FIG. 10 taken on the plane XIIXII of FIG. 10.

My invention is a trailer adapted to be pulled by a conventional tractor, preferably a heavy-duty tractor of the type conventionally used with large earth moving machines. My invention comprises a pair of loadcarrying wheels and a load-carrying rack mounted to pivot about an axis which may coincide with the axis of the wheels or may be parallel thereto but spaced therefrom. This rack straddles the load and is provided with load-supporting members at each end. At least one end is provided with a pair of swing load supporting members, one on each side. In one position those swing members extend under and support the load and in their other position they clear the load. My apparatus is also provided with means for rocking the loadstraddling rack forward and backward from its normal travel position so as to pick up or deposit a load without manual assistance, in the manner to be described.

An embodiment of my apparatus is shown connected to a conventional tractor 10 in FIG. 2. A two-wheeled tractor is illustrated, which need not be described further other than to say that it is provided with an upright coupling member 11 which is mounted on the tractor 10 on a longitudinally disposed pivot 12. Coupling member 11 is coupled to pull yoke 13 of my apparatus by vertical pivot means 14. Steering of the tractortrailer assembly is conventionally effected by hydraulic cylinders 16, one on each side of pull yoke 13, attached at one end to that yoke and connected at the other with coupling member 11.

Pull yoke 13 is fixed at the midpoint of horizontally positioned torque tube 17 which extends the width of my apparatus. At each end torque tube 17 is fixed to a rearwardly extending draft beam 18. In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 draft beams 18 terminate in bearings 19 for individually mounted wheel assemblies 20 provided with brakes. Mounted to rock about the axis of those bearings 19 is a load-straddling carrying rack 21. That rack comprises an inverted U-shaped member having a transverse top bar 23 with a leg 24 depending therefrom at each end. The axis of bearings 19 is positioned intermediate the lower ends of legs 24 and the top bar 23. Centrally located on top bar 23 is a clevis 25 and a like clevis 26 is fixed to the upper surface of pull yoke 13. Those two clevises are connected by double-ended hydraulic cylinder 27. Piston rod 28 from the forward end of cylinder 27 is pivotally attached to clevis 26 and piston rod 29 from the rear end of cylinder 27 is pivotally attached to clevis 25. The forward portion of the double-ended cylinder 27 is provided with front and rear fluid ports 31 and 32 respectively, and the rearward portion with like front and rear fluid ports 33 and 34 respectively. Those ports are supplied through fluid conduits and suitable valves, not shown, with fluid under pressure from a fluid source, also not shown.

The lower end of each depending leg 24 is fixed at right angles to a longitudinal arm 35 extending forwardly and rearwardly from the leg. The forward ends 36 of arms 35 are connected by a load-supporting cross member 37. At each rear end 38 is mounted a swing load-supporting member 40 on a pivot mechanism 39. The axis of the pivot lies in a vertical plane but is inclined toward top bar 23. On pivot mechanisms 39 members 40 swing from a load-clearing position in which they extend rearwardly from arms to a loadsupporting position in which they are aligned with each other parallel to cross member 37.

The mechanism for swinging each member comprises a shaft 42 attached thereto coaxial with pivot mechanism 39 and extending upwardly above top bar 23 through a bearing sleeve 43 affixed to that bar. Attached to the upper end of shaft 42 is a crank arm 44 terminating in a clevis 45. Pivotally attached to clevis is piston rod 46 of a hydraulic cylinder 47, the other end 48 of which is pivotally attached to top bar 23 adjacent clevis 25. The pivot at end 48 is parallel to shaft 42. Cylinder 45 is provided with front and rear fluid ports 49 and 50, respectively, which are supplied through fluid conduits and valves not shown with fluid under pressure from a source also not shown.

The operation of the embodiment of my apparatus above described and shown in FIGS. 1-5 inclusive will now be described, with particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The elongated load to be picked up and transported is shown in FIG. 4 as being supported on a block 53 between a high end portion 52 which is entirely above ground level and a low end portion 54 which ultimately rests on the ground. The tractor-trailer combination is maneuvered so that the rear of the trailer adjoins high end 52 of the load and the trailer is aligned with the load. Hydraulic fluid is then admitted to ports 49 of both hydraulic cylinders 47 so that both piston rods 46 are retracted, which pull cranks 44 toward clevis 35. Those cranks rotate shafts 42 so as to swing load-supporting members 40 into alignment with arms 35, likewise as is shown in FIG. 4. The source of hydraulic fluid is connected to ports 31 and 34 of hydraulic cylinder 27. This causes both pistons 28 and 29 to retract, which rocks rack 21 into the position shown in FIG. 4, with cross member 36 at ground level. The trailer is then backed over the load. Cross member 36 passes under high end 52 and the remainder of rack 21 straddles the load. Backing is stopped when cross member 36 reaches a position just forward of block 53. During this operation the rack 21 is locked with respect to draft beam 18 by hydraulic cylinder 27 in its fully retracted position.

The source of hydraulic fluid is then connected to ports 32 and 33 of cylinder 27 This causes both pistons 28 and 29 to extend to their extreme lengths, which rocks rack 21 into the position shown in FIG. 5. The upward movement of cross member 36 raises the load off block 53 so that its rear portion 54 adjacent block 53 is well above ground. Hydraulic fluid is then admitted into ports of hydraulic cylinders 47, and this causes both piston rods 46 to extend full length, rotating shafts 42 so as to swing members 40 beneath the load. Swing members 40 are then in their position shown in FIG. 1.

Finally, hydraulic fluid is admitted into one or the other of ports 31 and 34, causing either piston rod 28 or 29 of cylinder 27 to retract and rock rack 21 into its midor load-carrying position shown in FIG. 2. However, swing members 40 are beneath the load, as has been mentioned, and they raise the low end 54 of the load from the ground as cross member 36 allows forward end 52 to descend. In the travel position of rack 21 the cross members at the ends of arms 35 are equidistant from the ground and the load travels level therewith. During travel rack 21 is locked with respect to draft beam 18 by hydraulic cylinder 27, one piston of which is fully extended and the other fully retracted. When the trailer has been pulled to the load destination the load is deposited on the ground in the reverse sequence of the steps above described.

A somewhat modified embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, inclusive. The elements of this embodiment which are like those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 are identified by the same reference characters. The trailer has a pull yoke 13 which is affixed to the mid-point of a torque tube 17. A draft beam 18 is affixed to each end of torque tube 17 extending rearwardly thereof.

Loading-carrying rack 21 comprises an H-shaped member having a transverse bar 23 with a depending leg 24 and an upwardly extending projection 22 at each end. Near the lower end of each leg 24 is positioned a bearing 19 which journals an independently mounted wheel assembly 20 having a brake. In each upwardly projecting portion 22 is positioned a bearing 30 which journals a draft beam 18 at a location near but not at the rear end of the beam. As before, the lower end of each depending leg 24 is fixed to a longitudinal arm 35 extending forwardly and rearwardly from the leg. The forward ends 36 of arms 35 are connected by a loadsupporting cross member 37. At each rear end 38 is mounted a swing load-supporting member 40 on a pivot mechanism 39. The axis of the pivot lies in a vertical plane but is inclined toward transverse bar 23. On pivot mechanism 39 member 40 swings from a loadclearing to a load-supporting position, as has been described, operated by mechanism previously described and illustrated in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, and so not shown.

A separate doubled-ended hydraulic cylinder 27 con nects each end of torque tube 17 with rack 21 at a pivot 41 positioned in leg 24 intermediate wheel assembly bearing 19 and transverse bar 23. The cylinder has appropriate fluid connections as has been previously described. A semi-annular locking member is affixed to draft beam 18 coaxial with bearing 30 and depending from the beam. An aperture 61 in leg 24 allows member 60 to pass therethrough. Affixed to leg 24 near its lower end is a hydraulic cylinder 62 having an upwardly extending piston rod 63 which terminates in a locking bar 64. Hydraulic cylinder 62 has connections at each end to a source of hydraulic fluid, not shown. Locking bar 64 moves vertically in an aperture 65 in rear end 38 of longitudinal arm 35. Locking member 60 is provided on its circumference with spaced apertures 66 and 67 dimensioned to receive locking bar 64, so as to lock draft beam 18 in desired positions with respect to rack 21.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention differs from that previously described in that rack 21 rocks about pivot 30 which is spaced from wheel bearings 19. Thus, operation of hydraulic cylinder 27 moves wheel assemblies 20 farther away from tractor 10 when cross member 37 is lowered to its loading position, and nearer to tractor 10 when cross member 37 is raised. Rack 21 rolls on wheel assemblies 20 during such operation or, if the brakes are set in wheel assemblies 20 the tractor 10 is moved forward or backward. Locking member 60 is provided with spaced apertures 66 and 67 positioned so that the apparatus can be locked in its traveling position, shown in FIG. 7, or in its position when cross member 37 is at ground level. Locking bar 64 is caused to enter or retract aperture 66 by admitting hydraulic fluid to the appropriate end of cylinder 62. The rocking of rack 2"1 with respect to draft beams 18 causes those beams andi :the tractor to rock slightly about the axis of the tractor .wheels. 7

It is also possible to operate the apparatus of FIGS. 6-8 independently of hydraulic cylinders 27. In its traveling position, as shown in FIG. 7, rack, 21. is locked with respect to draft beams 18 by locking bar .64 which passes through aperture 65 in. rear end 38 of rack 21 and into aperture 66 in locking member 60 affixed to load beam 18. By applying the brakes in wheel assemblies 20, retracting locking bar 64 from aperture 66 and pulling my apparatus forward, the upper end of rack 21 is caused to move forwardly, pivoting about the point of contact of wheel assemblies and the ground. It also pivots about bearing with respect to draft beams 18. This movement of rack 21 carries cross member 36 downwardly and forwardly toward its lowermost position, and increases the spacing between wheel assemblies 20 and tractor 10. Aperture 67 is positioned in locking member 60 to receive locking bar 64 when this position is reached, so locking rack 21 with respect to draft beam 18. The brakes are then released and my apparatus is backed over the load in the manner which has been described, so as to move cross member 36 beneath its raised end. To bring swing members 40 to ground level the brakes in wheel assemblies 20 are again set, locking bar 64 is retracted, and my apparatus is moved backwards, causing rack 21 to pivot backwardly around the point of contact of wheel assemblies 20 and the ground. This movement also lifts cross member 36 and the load supported thereby. Swing members 40 are then rotated to their lead carrying position, and rack 21 is rocked forwardly to its traveling position by pulling my apparatus forward. This movement causes swing members 40 to rise and cross member 36 to descend so that the load is parallel to the ground. Rack 21 is locked in this position with respect to draft beams 18 by causing locking bar 64 to enter aperture 66 in locking member 60.

My apparatus is also adapted to handle an elongated box such as the scrap boxes which are used to charge steel scrap into steel-making furnaces. Conventionally these are elongated, open-top boxes with a closed end and an open end from which the scrap is chuted in the furnace. For this purpose the box is provided with a pair of trunnions on its sides near its open end. FIG. 9 illustrates the first embodiment of my apparatus herein described modified for scrap box carrying, in its first loading position.

In this modification the forward ends 36 of longitudinal arms of rack 21 are fitted with swing loadsupporting members 40. The rear ends 38 are formed as open U-shaped members 56 dimensioned to fit the trunnions 57 of scrap box 58. To pick up a box the rack 21 is tilted backwards to swing U-shaped members 56 downwardly. Swing load-supporting members are rotated into their load-clearing position. The trailer is then backed over scrap box 58 until members 56 engage the scrap box trunnions 57. The rack 21 is then rocked forwardly which raises the trunnion end of scrap box 58 and lowers swing load-supporting members 40. When these are below the scrap box bottom they are rotated into their load-supporting position beneath it. Rack 21 is then rocked backwards into its traveling position.

inward of draft beams 18 depend legs 71, at the lower ends of which bearings 19 journal individual wheel assemblies 20. The draft beams 18 overhang the wheel assemblies 20. Intermediate the ends of each draft beam 18 is a downwardly projecting member 72, and between the lower ends of those projections rack 21 is mounted on pivot bearings 73. Rack 21, as has been mentioned, comprises a pair of upstanding legs 24, the lower end of each terminating in a longitudinal member 35. The forward ends 36 of members 35 are connected by cross member 37, and the rear ends 38 carry swing load-supported members 40. The upper ends of legs 24 are connected by a transverse torque tube 74 carrying a clevis 25. One end of a link 76 is pivotally connected to clevis 25 and the other end is pivotally connected to a crank arm 77 fixed to a transverse shaft 78 which is mounted on draft beams 18. Alternatively, link 76 may connect crank arm 77 with a clevis attached to forward end 36 of rack 21 as is shown in broken lines in FIG. 10. Shaft 78 is caused to rotate by any convenient means, such as a fluid motor or a gasoline engine, not shown.

The operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 is the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The rack 21 is rocked about pivot bearings 73, the axis of which is intermediate that of the tractor wheels and wheel assemblies 20. Thus a greater proportion of the load is carried by the tractor wheels than in the case of the embodiments previously described. As the draft beams 18 are above wheel assemblies 20, rather than between them, rack 21 is wider, and the load-carrying capacity of the unit is greater, than that of the previous embodiments, for the same overall width.

In the foregoing specification l have described presently preferred embodiments of my invention; however, it will be understood that my invention can be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A self-loading trailer carrier for elongated loads comprising a pull yoke, a pair of draft beams connected with the pull yoke spaced from each other and extending rearwardly thereof, a separate wheel assembly mounted to support the rear end of each draft beam so that the wheel assemblies can straddle the load, a longitudinally elongated load-straddling rackprovided with load-supporting means at each end, those means at at least one end comprising a pair of swing loadsupporting members mounted one on each side of the rack, and means pivotally mounting the load-straddling rack between the draft beams intermediate the ends of the rack for rocking movement between a first loading position and a second transport position, at least one of the load-supporting means being positioned intermediate the wheel assembly axis and the pull yoke and further being positioned closely adjacent the ground when the rack is in the said first loading position.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load straddling rack pivots both forward and backward between positions in which the load supporting means at the lower end is at ground level.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted on the axis of the wheels.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack comprises an inverted U-shaped member pivotally mounted intermediate the ends and the top of the legs of the U.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 including means for rocking the load-straddling rack connected between the pull yoke and the lower end of a leg of the U.

6. Apparatus of claim 4 including an arm at the end of each leg of the U-shaped member extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof and in which the loadsupporting means are positioned at each pair of ends of those arms.

7. Apparatus of claim 6 adapted for loads provided with trunnions in which the load-supporting means at one pair of ends of the arms comprise open U-shaped members adapted to engage and support a pair of trunnions.

8. Apparatus of claim 6 in which load-supporting means connect a pair of ends of those arms.

9. Apparatus of claim 1 in which theload-straddling rack is pivotally mounted on an axis spaced above the axis of the wheels.

10. Apparatus of claim 1 including locking means comprising a semiannular locking member depending overhang the wheel assemblies. 

1. A self-loading trailer carrier for elongated loads comprising a pull yoke, a pair of draft beams connected with the pull yoke spaced from each other and extending rearwardly thereof, a separate wheel assembly mounted to support the rear end of each draft beam so that the wheel assemblies can straddle the load, a longitudinally elongated load-straddling rack provided with loadsupporting means at each end, those means at at least one end comprising a pair of swing load-supporting members mounted one on each side of the rack, and means pivotally mounting the loadstraddling rack between the draft beams intermediate the ends of the rack for rocking movement between a first loading position and a second transport position, at least one of the loadsupporting means being positioned intermediate the wheel assembly axis and the pull yoke and further being positioned closely adjacent the ground when the rack is in the said first loading position.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load straddling rack pivots both forward and backward between positions in which the load supporting means at the lower end is at ground level.
 3. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted on the axis of the wheels.
 4. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack comprises an inverted U-shaped member pivotally mounted intermediate the ends and the top of the legs of the U.
 5. Apparatus of claim 4 including means for rocking the load-straddling rack connected between the pull yoke and the lower end of a leg of the U.
 6. Apparatus of claim 4 including an arm at the end of each leg of the U-shaped member extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof and in which the load-supporting means are positioned at each pair of ends of those arms.
 7. Apparatus of claim 6 adapted for loads provided with trunnions in which the load-supporting means at one pair of ends of the arms comprise open U-shaped members adapted to engage and support a pair of trunnions.
 8. Apparatus of claim 6 in which load-supporting means connect a pair of ends of those arms.
 9. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted on an axis spaced above the axis of the wheels.
 10. Apparatus of claim 1 including locking means comprising a semiannular locking member depending from a draft beam coaxial with the pivot of the load-straddling rack, a locking bar affixed to the load-straddling rack for movement toward and away from the locking member, and means carried by the locking member engageable by the locking bar.
 11. Apparatus of claim 1 in which the load-straddling rack is pivotally mounted on an axis intermediate the pull yoke and the wheel assemblies.
 12. Apparatus of claim 11 in which the draft beams overhang the wheel assemblies. 